Tour Championship 2006

Scott's performance was enough to lift him into a tie for the lead with Joe Durant (68) on a pleasant if cool day at demanding East Lake, three strokes ahead of Trevor Immelman (66), Brett Quigley (68), Stuart Appleby (70) and Retief Goosen (71).

Scott is ranked fourth in the world and has posted six top-three finishes on the PGA Tour this year, but he hasn't lifted a trophy and this is his last chance to do so.

"For guys like me and Ernie (Els) who have not won, we're really thinking we want to win this," the 26-year-old Australian said. "This would be a great way for me to finish the year and really feel like I've gotten something out of my good play throughout the year.

"I've probably played the best I ever have over the period of a year but have nothing much to show for it. I drove the ball well today, hit a lot of fairways, and that gives you a chance to at least attack the pins a little bit."

Scott made his move early with four front-nine birdies, then dropped his only stroke of the day at the par-4 10th, where his approach shot plugged in a greenside bunker.

He had a couple of cruel lip-outs down the stretch, but could not pick up another birdie, merely parring the final eight holes.

"I gave myself a lot of opportunities," Scott said. "On a good day it could have been four shots better, probably."

While Scott seeks his first tour victory, Durant is as loose as a goose, with a win at Disney two weeks ago highlighting a stellar autumn campaign.

"Two months ago I could wait for (the season) to end but I hate to see it go now," Durant said. "I didn't hit it great today, just tried to stay very patient. It was not near as windy (as Thursday) but the pins were tougher, so consequently the scoring was just about the same, I guess."

Durant made a slow start, missing a three-footer to bogey the par-4 second, where he made a "horrible stroke," but he collected four birdies in the next 10 holes before stumbling with another bogey at the 13th.

The 42-year-old is the hottest player on tour, finishing no worse than sixth in his past four starts. Regarded as a supreme ball-striker, only a mediocre putter has prevented him from notching more than four career victories.

"I went back to my old putting style from high school and college, back to my open stance," Durant said of his stellar late-season form. "When you're not putting well, you watch the guys who roll it great and most of them are technically perfect, so I decided to give it a shot that way, and it was horrible."

Immelman, a lock for PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, jumped into contention with the day's best score, capping off his round with a 20-foot downhill birdie at the tough par-3 18th.

"I played decently yesterday but putted really badly, so it was nice to hole a few putts and get some momentum," Immelman said.

Goosen, who shared the first-round lead with Durant, had a quiet day, with just one birdie, although he limited the damage to two bogeys.

Appleby tied for the lead early, but fell back with a double-bogey at the par-3 sixth. His back nine was a roller coaster, with three birdies and three bogeys.

"I've got to pick it up a notch," Appleby said.

The scoring average of 71.4 was better than Thursday, but only six players broke 70 despite the absence of almost any wind.